host/hostess goodies

With every fabulous holiday party invite, I find myself stressing over what my host/hostess gift will be (and what I will wear, of course). I don't know if you do the same, or if I'm just extra obsessive about finding the perfect thing. Either way, here are a few of my holiday host/hostess gift favorites...

Pottery Barn Crystal Ornament
A great personalized gift for those parties you know about in advance.

Paperwhites
One of my favorite Christmas traditions. Beautiful and classic with a heavenly scent.

The Veuve

You can't go wrong with this yellow beaut as your entrance fee.

See's Candies
A tradition in my family and an all-time favorite.

Henri Bendel Candles

These candles are fantastic and they last forever. Amber is my fave for the holiday season.

lama love

A friend recently sent me the link to Lama, a fantastic new online boutique, and I fell in LOVE!
The story goes like this:
"Once upon a time, a young interior designer and her delightful doggy companion moved north from their L.A. digs to Oakland, CA. Working day after day at her desk in San Francisco, the girl came to a very important realization. 'I'm supposed to be doing something else with my life', she thought. So, out the door she went. Influenced by her love for design and passion for travel, the girl decided she would search the world for beautiful objects that were dreamt up and created by others who shared her fanaticism for the fabulous."

And so she journeyed to Latin America and discovered many beautiful things made by both ancient artisans and modern designers. A year later, the girl and her doggy launched Lama, Latin America in the Modern Age featuring pieces from her travels and works by Latino artists in the U.S.

Teapot with a Cold
Hand glazed, painted, and knit by Lola Goldstein. Imported from Argentina.
I squealed when I saw this because it is so freaking cute!

Pink Lady Pillow
Made by design duo Coty Larguia and Eugenia Troncoso in Argentina.
I love this whole series of illustrations on 100% cotton pillows. Perfect for a child's room or an interesting design element anywhere in the house.

Pig Grain Shoulder Bag
Handmade in Guatemala from recycled grain bags and hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics.
A bag with a pig on it made out of recycled materials?! Does it get any better?

Gato
100% cotton, baby safe with soft button eyes. Made in Buenos Aires by Sope de Principe. Imported from Argentina.
I want to squeeze him! So adorable & there are other animals available also, but the cat is my favorite.

momiji = friends forever

Cuteness overload!
Momiji Friendship Dolls from Uncommon Goods are the most adorable little things & great gifts for the cherished women in your life. Each doll has a name & fun characteristics, which I like to match to the person I am giving one to.

Pixie likes escapology and cups of tea.
Luckyness likes yoga, giraffes, and milkshakes (always strawberry).
Rainbows likes shopping, fashion, and long division.

There is also a place in the base of the doll to hide a secret message (love note).
XOXO

french paper co. & pop ink

French Paper Co. offers a wide variety of eco-friendly papers, envelopes, stationary & printing services!

Environmentalism is more than a marketing gimmick for us. It's part of our survival.

French Paper Co. has been running off of hydroelectric energy direct from the St. Joe River in Michigan for almost 100 years, which is quite impressive. All of the papers they sell are made in their mill using 100% clean, renewable energy. They've also been pioneers in recycled papers since 1953.
Their selection is vast & includes various weights, colors, grades and sizes.

Linked up with French Paper Co. is Pop Ink, a great resource for totally cool gifts & treasures for your home.
Two of my favorites:

Little Red Samurai Decor-a-Board
Made from recycled wood scraps and unused portions of lumbered trees.
Isn't she cute?
11.25" x 14", $28 ea.

Wash-Sabi Bar Soap
Made with triple-milled, all-natural essential oils with a fresh verbena/lavender scent.
$5/bar

just my style - thomas paul

I first fell head-over-heels for Thomas Paul with his bold and playful melamine plates. His take on the traditional updated with modern patterns and colors is genius. I especially adore his use of various birds (crows, swallows, robins) in many of his designs.

Raised in NYC, Thomas Paul graduated from the New York Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in textile design. He got his start working as a colorist and designer for a silk mill designing neck wear for Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, and DKNY. The Thomas Paul silk pillow collection was launched in 2001 and has steadily expanded to include cotton & linen pillows, rugs, tabletop, stationary, bags, and lighting.

The complete Thomas Paul collection is available for purchase online at Velocity Art.

chirp, chirp, chirp

These adorable porcelain birdie cups from Uncommongoods.com (one of my favorite shops) would make a fine addition to any home. So cute & brimming with sweetness. A great gift for any hostess or friend with exceptional style.

image credit: uncommongoods